The Rockies are looking to upgrade behind the dish and are interested in Rangers catcher Jonathan Lucroy, reports T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. Sullivan’s colleague, Thomas Harding, reports that the Rox also have some interest in Braves backstop Kurt Suzuki and Tigers catcher Alex Avila.
All three of the options listed are set to hit free agency upon completion of the 2017 campaign, and none of the bunch is earning at a substantial rate. Lucroy’s $5.75MM salary is the heftiest of the bunch, while Avila is earning $2MM in 2017 and Suzuki is owed only the balance of a $1.5MM base salary (plus some modest incentives).
The 31-year-old entered the season as one of the consensus top free agents on the 2017-18 market, but he’s seen both his bat and his glove take steps backward in his first full season with Texas. After being acquired just prior to last year’s non-waiver deadline, Lucroy raked at an exceptional .276/.345/.539 pace with 11 homers in 168 plate appearances down the stretch. However, he’s batting just .240/.293/.339 through 294 plate appearances this season and has begun to cede some playing time to Robinson Chirinos.
Lucroy has caught 30 percent of those that have attempted to steal against him, but he’s also seen his once-vaunted framing numbers deteriorate to the point that Baseball Prospectus ranks him as one of the league’s worst pitch framers.
It’s the opposite story for the 30-year-old Avila, who has broken out in a substantial way in 2017. A well-above-average catcher with the Tigers in 2011-12, Avila’s career was mired in a downward spiral before a return to the Motor City sparked a renaissance. He’s hitting .280/.402/.488 with 11 homers through just 256 plate appearances and has slashed his strikeout rate from 37.3 percent in 2016 to a more passable (but still too high) 29.7 percent this year.
While many have questioned Avila’s ability to sustain this pace, there isn’t a player in baseball (min. 250 PAs) that has a higher hard-contact rate than Avila’s 50 percent. His 92 mph average exit velocity is also among the top 10 in the league, trailing only Aaron Judge, Miguel Sano, Khris Davis, Joey Gallo, Manny Machado and Nelson Cruz. He’s sporting a 31 percent caught-stealing rate but, like Lucroy, has received below-average marks in framing this year (albeit to a lesser extent than Lucroy).
Suzuki, meanwhile, is hitting .255/.340/.468 through 163 plate appearances in his first season with Atlanta. While SunTrust Park has a homer-friendly reputation, six of Suzuki’s eight big flies have come on the road this season. He’s caught a much-improved 26 percent of potential base thieves with the Braves and has demonstrated some improved but still shaky framing skills, per B-Pro.
The reason for the Rockies’ interest in catching upgrades isn’t difficult to see. Tony Wolters has shouldered the bulk of the time behind the dish this season, but he’s posted a meager .255/.351/.306 batting line, with much of that OBP boost coming from batting in front of Rockies pitchers. On the whole, Rockies backstops have posted a dismal .234/.313/.310 batting line — an especially unsightly level of output when considering their hitter-friendly home park.
Harding further reports that the Rox have “extensively” scouted Tigers left-hander Justin Wilson, adding names like Brad Brach, Zach Britton and AJ Ramos as other names the Rox have at least kept an eye on.
It’s not hard to connect some dots and expect that the Rox could have interest in a combo deal that would net them both Avila and Wilson from Detroit, though the asking price on that affordable and excellent pairing would figure to be high. Similarly, I’d imagine there’ve at least been internal discussions about the possibility of pairing one of the Baltimore relievers with Orioles catcher Welington Castillo, though his bat has cooled considerably since suffering a groin injury earlier this summer. That last connection is merely my own speculation, but if the Orioles do indeed listen on their relievers, it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see them gauge interest in Castillo as well.
Lucroy would be exactly what the Rockies need.
I could not agree more. Wonder what would it cost to get darvish, too.
Rodgers, Mcmahon, and Almonte
lol they’re both rentals buddy your MASSIVELY overrating the return
Heh, how much you got?
For both? More than that
Darvish has a 5 team no trade clause that includes the Rockies
Where was this reported? It’s been said that no one has any idea of his NTC, and it’s 10 teams
Some Colorado air is exactly what Lucroy needs too
Ok. How about Darvish and Lucroy to the Cubs for Caratini, Candelario, De La Cruz, and Tseng
What does that have to do with an article on the Rockies?
Not even close. Would start with Happ.
I don’t think that’s close to enough. Happ and candelario ans tseng plus I throw in I think would be closer
Keeping adding to the list….
there’s no way that’s enough
How can a skill like pitch framing diminish so much? Its nothing that is really too physically demanding. Does the guy just forget the feel of the zone? Maybe the different groups of umpires not calling strikes? New pitchers? Maybe its a silly stat to begin with because of so many variables?
Does catching Dickey factor in? He struggled with that knuckle and for the beginning of the year was the only pitch he saw.
I truly believe it’s mostly because of pitchers not hitting spots and having bad luck with umpires calls. Although I did see an interesting article mentioning he doesn’t get as low when squatting as he once did which could be a factor for some reason, mobility, better view for catcher, more likely to get lower calls, idr exact reasoning they gave.
Agreed that it’s because of the Rangers pitchers not hitting their spots. Just watch the Rangers bullpen for one game and you’ll see how valid your point is.
Isn’t framing supposed to be the ability to steal strikes when the pitcher misses his spot, and doesn’t throw one? The pitcher hitting his spot, means it’s a strike, so that would not help framing numbers. Wouldn’t that mean the more the pitcher misses, the better opportunity to increase the framing stats? Of course what matters is what the umpire calls it, regardless of how the catcher catches it. Maybe it is just a silly stat.
There is a huge difference between a pitcher missing there target by four inches and missing a target by a foot or more. Framing isn’t stealing a strike from terrible pitches. Framing is making a borderline pitch just off the plate appear to be a strike. If the pitcher isn’t close there isn’t much anyone could do to make it look like a strike.
And pitchers don’t intend to call strikes on every pitch. Many times the best pitch is one that may have looked like a strike coming out of the pitcher’s hand to the batter, but never crossed the plate. That pitch may still hit the target (where it is supposed to be thrown.)
It all depends on the umpire and the pitcher. I don’t agree that it’s a silly stat, but it definitely isn’t perfect.
It’s a measurable stat, but don’t you imagine umpires have caught on as well? I mean, they don’t live in a bubble. I’m sure umps know a pretty fair amount at this point about pitch framing.
Could also be due to his elite pitch framing from early on in his career. Maybe umps are watching more closely (if possible bc this would be extremely hard to see) for Lucroy to jolt or angle his glove in a way to try to get a call? Just speculating but could be a valid reason for why his numbers have increased from one of the best to worst so quickly.
I also read a book that touched on the subject and said that catchers in their low 30s get worse very quickly (i.e. Russell Martin) at pitch framing. Its not a perfect stat, but it is a useful one and definitely should be refined to a more exact meaning/usefulness.
Suzuki & Vizzy for Murphy get it done Coppy !!!
If we are getting into Braves wish list trades with the Rox, I’d focus on a package to land McMahon to play 3rd. Let Camargo remain a super U
Pint or McMahon with a throw in for Justin Wilson and Avila?
Or would the Rockies balk at losing their #2 or #3 prospect?
Prolly too much. I could see a Colten Welker + a couple of lotto tickets in play though.
Realistically, the Tigers will likely be out of contention for a few years, so Welker would fit that time frame too.
No way Tigers get Pint from a Justin Wilson trade. He’s gotten comps to Justin Verlander.
The ideal trade partner for the Tigers is a NL contender. You Rockie fans would really like Justin Wilson, especially a new arm NL batters haven’t seen yet you would make a hard push. Avila is a fan favorite, bats lefty, teams don’t steal much on him and calls a solid game.
Could a trade with Wilson and Avila get your top CF prospect?
No way it gets Dahl. I am of the mindset that I would love a Raimel Tapia + extras for Avila and Verlander package with the Tigers picking up Verlander’s salary for this year. I would be okay with Dahl + two low level lottos substituted for Tapia with Wilson included.
Not close Dudder, too high if prospects for mediocre return.
Those guys should be reserved for front line starters or remain cemented in the Rox future.
Haha, I definitely agree that they’re probably better served staying in the farm, but I disagree on the mediocre return.
I’m high… … … on Justin Wilson. I also feel Avila is the best catcher available at the deadline.
After the JD Martinez trade, I wouldn’t be surprised if Al Avila dealt both for Castellani.
Lucroy>Avila
Yeah, once they invent that time machine to trade 2016 Lucroy instead of 2017 I’ll concede your point. Until that time, I’m going to stick with what I said.
Yeah, a down year means Lucroy’s career is over. Right.
Nice hyperbole. I never implied his career was over. I stated that Avila is better than he is right now.
You can disagree, but you won’t be able to use facts to prove your point because all the numbers will agree with me.
Using your line of “thinking,” it’d be like me saying Justin Verlander deserves top prospects because he was good last year. How about you trade for Barton Colon while you’re at it because he was good last year too.
Next time try not being stupid. People might take you seriously instead of just wondering if you ate paint chips as a child.
You’re the one ranting like a child. I’d take Lucroy because it’s just, if not more likely, he goes on a tear that brings his numbers closer to his career avg, while Avila could likely see some regression. It’s all a guessing game.
To say that baseball is “all a guessing game” is to ignore every advanced metric there is. It fits your confirmation bias, so I understand why you’d want to do that, but that doesn’t make it true.
Is there a chance Lucroy turns it around and finishes the season close to his 2016 second half of .276/.345/.539? Absolutely, but the odds (made by those advanced metrics) are against it.
I would like to see Ramos as he could close next year, if they could net him and Suzuki, I could see giving up McMahon and another lesser prospect orb2. Rodgers and Pintt stay put
No way McMahon is heading anywhere. He will be the Opening Day 1B in 2018 for the Rox.
Is it just me, or do all these defensive metrics seem extremely inconsistent
Well, batters have bad seasons, right? Pitchers have off-seasons. Occasionally defense suffers for a season, perhaps due to injury or other reasons. Derek Jeter was generally a below-average defender, for example, but he mixed in some really good defensive years too.
Justin Wilson is somewhat comparable to Andrew Miller. He can set up, close, pitch multiple innings, is left handed, throws high 90s gas. Unlike Chapman, he is signed for another year. I don’t think for a minute he will get what either of them netted, but if you think those proposals were giving up too much for him (and Avila), picture him pitching against you in the playoffs.
Anyone want Narvaez or Smith from the white sox ? Cheap and not terrible
How is pitch framing determined? Does it have to do with the umpire calling a ball a strike? There are so many variables concerned I just don’t see it as a viable stat.
If the Braves want to make a trade with Suzuki happen, they should pair him with Jim Johnson. Johnson is signed through next year and his sinker would be welcome in Coors. This way the Braves might get back a guy like Sam Hilliard.
Also Kurt Suzuki tonight has hit back to back 2 very long home runs.
This is actually a very reasonable suggestion and fits what’s needed in the system well.
Suzuki increased his trade value tonight
But who would back up Flowers, just sent Recker with Garcia? Do we have a prospect ready to back up?
Not the biggest concern. I’m sure we have plenty of serviceable backup catchers in the system for the last 2 months of baseball. It truly isn’t a big issue in any matter. Suzuki is a 1 year deal and we can resign him next year if we truly want to. Considering we are out of contending, we should at least test the market and see if we can get anything for him. Plus, looks like Freitas is swinging it pretty well down in AAA. So I’m sure for a 2 month backup role, he will do just fine for a call up.
Very good assessment, I understand.
Freitas, or maybe even a guy like Kade Scivicque definitely could be a fill in back up catcher for a couple of months. The braves have definitely had some weak back up catchers through the years. Two months won’t kill the franchise.
Not disappointed to see Lucroy go at all! And to think what was given up for him, smh..
Well if the Rockies are looking for a catcher they don’t have to give up much for maybe Kurt Suzuki for the Rockies 27th prospect Harrison Musgrave
I think the braves would be more than happy with that deal. More likely to want a younger pitcher… but as far as their organizational ranking, I think you are spot on.
Sorry I said that twice
They’re not getting Suzuki sorry